NEWS
The “mother” could well become the “granny” of all defence deals in the years ahead. India is likely to go in for another 63 fighters after delivery of the first 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) if the “timelines” for its other fighter development projects are not met, say top defence officials. This comes even as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) within a week or two is all set to open the commercial bids of the two jets left in the MMRCA fray—the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The MoD has already rejected “any scope for comeback” by the other four jets, including the American F/A-18 and F-16, eliminated from the MMRCA race in April 2011.

VIEWS
The case for 126 MMRCA, initially called the multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) was initiated by Air Headquarters in 2001. However, the proposal underwent a number of modifications in the initially defined weight parameters, the aircraft types and the list of vendors before the request for proposal (RFP) for MMRCA was finally issued in 2007. While reports indicate that the tender is close to finalisation, it may take yet another four to five years before the MMRCA finally enters service with the IAF.

In the intervening period since 2001, the strength of the combat fleet of the IAF has declined from the authorised figure of 39.5 squadrons to around 34 and in the next few years is expected to reduce further to fewer than 30 squadrons as vintage fighters of Russian origin are consigned to the museum. The acquisition process followed since the mid-1960s was through government-to-government transaction initially with the Soviet Union and later with Russia, was replaced by the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2005. Intended to ensure transparency in the procurement process, widen options and ensure best value for money, the DPP which has been amended several times since promulgation, has also served to introduce infinite complexity in the process leading to excruciating delays in procurement. Compare this with the speed of procurement of the Su-30 fleet; the process for which began in 1994 and the first batch of aircraft was inducted into squadron service in 1997. The decision for licensed production of the fourth generation Su-30 MKI was taken in 2000 and the first aircraft was delivered in 2004. Timeframe for the procurement of the C-130J through the foreign military sales route is also similar.

The proposal to enhance the MMRCA tender by 63 aircraft is apparently to cater for the possible delay in the Tejas light combat aircraft and/or the Indo-Russian FGFA projects. As uncertainties continue to afflict both the projects, the possibility of delay is real. Hence the proposal to enhance the MMRCA fleet by 50 per cent would appear a reasonable and logical step. However, there may be impediments, imponderables and alternatives. Despite the heightened expectations that the tendering process is in the last lap, given the experience so far, one can never be sure as to when the final word will be said. The issues related to transfer of technology, long-term relationship between the aerospace industries of the selected vendor and the buyer as also plans for fulfilling huge offset obligations especially when provisions of the liberalised rules in this regard are not available to the vendor in the MMRCA tender, can pose a daunting challenge to the bureaucracy in the MoD in finalising the contract especially as this is the first experience of its kind. Besides, the murky and scam-riddled milieu could seriously impede decision-making.